| BackgroundOcean is the second largest space of human survival and development. Maritime transportation has become the main mode of transportation for international trade, and in the entire ocean system seafarers, a large and special group, is the most important. Seafarers’working environment is very different from the land, not only facing the harsh natural environment, but also bearing the ship’s own noise, vibration, electromagnetic radiation. Staying away from social and family separation, fixed working relationship hierarchy also seriously affects the seafarer’s health. Other than health, the special working environment also has a huge impact on the diet and the life quality of seafarers.Research purposes1Understand nutrient intake, nutrition knowledge and the behavioral characteristics of the entry-exit of Chinese seafarers in Shanghai port.2Explore international Seafarer’s quality of life and its influencing factors.3Make proposal on how to improve seafarers’nutritional status and dietary structure, nutrition attitude and behavior to improve the quality of life of the international Seafarer.Research MethodsThe study is performed on the international vessels calling Shanghai Port, targeting Chinese seafarer for a cross-sectional survey. Seafarers randomly selected from four major international routes container ships responded the survey, with self-administered questionnaire, three days bookkeeping table of weights and the quality of life Short Form (WHOQOL-BREF) to collect demographic information, dietary intake information, nutrition KAP and quality of life. Thru understanding of the nutrition and quality of life of seafarers from different routes, positions, age groups, to analyze the possible affecting factors, thus to provide a reliable information on how to improve their nutritional status in the future.The resultsThe survey sample of seafarers were all male Chinese nationals, ranging from the oldest63years old to the youngest20years old, the median age was30(25to40). Han nationality accounted for95.7%of the total. Married seafarers accounted for55.8%, unmarried and divorced were40.9%and3.2%, respectively. They were mainly college degree holders, income ranges were mainly from$500to$1,000/month and more than$2,000/month.The results showed that43.8%of seafarers were overweight,1.7%of the seamen were obese. The key issue was inadequate intake of fresh fruits, dairy products and beans, over70%of samples was having both issue; while poultry meat, edible oil, salt intake was excessive, over80%of samples were taking more than the recommended quantity. In addition, they intaked excessive fat, accounting for41.9%of the energy; the three meals energy distribution was in-balanced, of which dinner energy accounted for50%in the whole day. Mainly affected by the seafarers routes (p<0.05), people in American routes had less issue of inadequate nutrition, but they may had excessive intake issue.Balanced diet study found that80.4%of seafarers had low degreed issue of excessive intake,37.7%for inadequate intake, nearly half of seafarers for the dietary imbalance. The main seafarers dietary pattern was model A, there’s also a small portion was model B and D. Body mass index (BMI), age, routes, food expenditure and other factors were the main factors that impacts seafarers diet balance.Seafarers nutrition knowledge was generally weak with a score of6.4±3.7points, and differentiated by age groups and education levels, nutrition knowledge score also had a significant difference (p<0.05). Seafarers’nutrition attitude was okay, but they’re lack of nutrition knowledge, they were more concerned about food safety issues. Irregular meal was the key issue of seafarers’ nutrition behavior.The seafarers’quality of life was lower than the norm (p<0.05) in four areas, and were subject to a variety of factors of age, education, sea age.ConclusionAlthough the overall nutritional status of seafarers has been greatly improved, dietary imbalance is still a relatively common problem. The lack of fresh fruit and dairy products is particular. In addition, though the inadequate intake of vitamins and trace elements hasn’t caused obvious clinical symptoms, it needs serious attention. Seafarers are lack of nutrition knowledge, exercise and irregular three meals is another problem the study finds out. It’s an alarm to transportation management.Proposal1.Social participation:effective interventions to improve the quality of life of seafarers;2.Government action:including developing laws and regulations to protect the rights and interests of seafarers;3.Enterprises awareness:conducting health education to improve the nutritional knowledge of seafarers, establishing a reasonable food supply system, co-working between family and enterprises;4. Seafarers self-awareness:changing bad habits, strengthening self-health management. |
PDF Full Text Request